Broccoli Varieties for the Eastern US

Our plant breeding partners are developing broccoli hybrids capable of producing quality heads under highly variable and often stressful eastern growing conditions. Until those new cultivars appear on the market, which currently available varieties are best for eastern growers?

In the first two years of this effort, over thirty commercial broccoli hybrids were evaluated in our regional testing system. In the most stressful environments, four varieties stood out from the rest with respect to bead uniformity and dome structure: DuraPak 19, Lieutenant, DuraPak 16, and Tradition.

Even under more optimal fall or spring conditions, some commercial varieties are better choices for eastern production than others. The list below includes hybrids that, based on our experience, have done well in some eastern environments and seasons. Updates will be made as more information and varieties become available.

Within each seasonal planting list, varieties are listed in order from earliest to latest maturity.

For early spring planting, late spring/early summer harvest

Variety

Best for:

Packman

bunches

Castle Dome

crowns

Lieutenant**

crowns

BC1764**

crowns

Green Magic

crowns, bunches, florets, processing

Gypsy

crowns, bunches

Diplomat

crowns, bunches, florets

Bay Meadows

crowns

Belstar*

crowns

Ironman

crowns

For late summer harvest (tolerates some warmth)

Variety

Best for:

BC1764**

crowns

Lieutenant**

crowns

Green Magic

crowns, bunches, florets, processing

Burney**

crowns

Gypsy

crowns, bunches

Emerald Pride

bunches

Diplomat

crowns, bunches, florets

BC1691**

crowns

Bay Meadows

crowns

Imperial

crowns, bunches

Tradition

crowns, bunches

Belstar*

crowns

For fall harvest

Castle Dome

crowns

Lieutenant**

crowns

BC1691**

crowns

BC1764**

crowns

Green Magic

crowns, bunches, florets, processing

Emerald Crown

crowns

Bay Meadows

crowns

Arcadia

bunching, florets, processing

Tradition

crowns, bunches

Belstar*

crowns

Fiesta*

crowns

*Organic seed is also available. Additional information on organic choices for eastern growers can be found in a recent report by our colleagues at NC State.

"Developing an Eastern Broccoli Industry through cultivar development, economically and environmentally sustainable production and delivery" is supported by the Specialty Crop Research Initiative of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, under Award No. 2016-51181-25402.